Nutrition has an enormous impact on a swimmer's performance. Without enough energy or calories coming in, you cannot expect your body to respond quickly to the high demand of our sport. Parents and athletes need to understand the relationship between what you eat and how well you perform.

For example, without sufficient protein, muscles cannot grow stronger. Without enough calcium, magnesium, potassium and other nutrients, muscles cannot contract and relax at the proper times. Lastly, if a swimmer eats too much sugar at the wrong time, their energy will quickly diminish resulting in weakness and fatigue.